USA WBB Routs Japan Without Caitlin Clark After Japanese Fans’ Smack Talk

“You need Caitlin Clark to beat us,” a sign from a Japanese basketball fan read ahead of Japan’s game with the Team USA women in pool play of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Apparently, that fan was miseducated, as Team USA cruised to its 55th consecutive international victory with a 102-76 victory in a rematch of the Tokyo gold medal game.

Presumptive WNBA MVP A’Ja Wilson led all scorers with 24 points and 13 rebounds in the contest, while reining league MVP Breanna Stewart added 22 points to go along with eight boards of her own.

The Japanese women hung tough thanks to some strong 3-point shooting in the first half. But ultimately the size and athleticism proved to be far too much.

Back to Clark.

The superstar WNBA rookie was omitted from Team USA’s final roster, much to the chagrin of fans.

Team USA Coach Cheryl Reeve Showed She Didn’t Need Caitlin Clark Vs. Japan

Team USA and Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve refused to talk about Clark being left off the team before the games.

“Why the hell would I answer a national team question?” she said. “I’m wearing Lynx. And I’m the head coach of the national team but I’m not the chair of the committee. Anybody want to venture into anything else?”

Reeve changed her tune a little bit when Clark and Indiana Fever topped the Lynx earlier this month.

“I mean, I don’t know that I quite understand the question in that everybody knows that the reason why our teams around the league are having sellouts are because Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever are coming to town,” she said when asked about the amount of support for Clark in her home arena.

Clark is a remarkable player. And she’s having a great rookie year.

But it’s not surprising to see her left off a loaded Team USA roster, and if the result against Japan is any indication, the U.S. will be just fine without her.